Cape Town — United States Congressman, Jonathan L Jackson has condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to halt all aid to South Africa, claiming he was influenced by racist disinformation and political bias.
In a statement, Congressman Jackson said President Trump’s decision to cut aid to South Africa was misguided and rooted in falsehoods, saying South Africa was the USA’s most valuable trade partner in Africa.
“This action not only undermines our diplomatic and economic relationship but also jeopardises life-saving programs, including critical HIV/AIDS assistance,” Jackson said.
He described South Africa’s land ownership policy as ‘complex’ and cited colonial dispossession and Apartheid policies as the reasons behind the confusion.
In 1913, the colonial government forced black South Africans to own just 7% of the land, with the white minority owning the rest. By 2017, white landowners still controlled 75% of the country’s farmland, despite making up 8% of the country’s population.
Jackson said the new Expropriation Act allowed the South African government to reclaim land in the public interest and under certain conditions, which would correct historical injustices and not target specific groups.
U.S. Congressman (D) Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson of Illinois condemns President Trump’s decision to halt aid to South Africa, says decision driven by racial disinformation and political bias.
Full statement here…#sabcnews @rep_jackson pic.twitter.com/DH227ootMR
— Sherwin Bryce-Pease (@sherwiebp) February 12, 2025
He said Trump’s claims about land seizures from certain classes were a distortion, and he also called out Elon Musk, who benefitted from Apartheid, and said his deliberate spread of falsehoods was a “dangerous distraction from the real issue.”
“By cutting off aid, President Trump is directly harming South Africa’s most vulnerable populations,” Jackson said.
The cutting of the PEPFAR fund would affect many people’s livelihoods, particularly in a country with one of the highest HIV rates in the world.
While he acknowledged that South Africa and the US hold different views when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict, he said punishing South Africa while ignoring other countries was hypocrisy.
He called on Trump’s administration to restore aid to South Africa and reaffirm the USA’s commitment to diplomacy, economic cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
